Pass-catching tight ends at a premium in NFL draft

The days of a tight end’s being little more than a sixth offensive lineman who was slimmer, trimmer and could catch an occasional pass are seemingly long gone.

The position has transformed from one that used to be filled with guys big enough to be tackles though not quite athletic enough to be receivers to a place where elite athletes can find a home.

Ten years ago, then-New York Giant Jeremy Shockey led all NFL tight ends with 74 receptions and 894 receiving yards. Plug those numbers into the 2011 leader board, and Shockey would have been eighth in catches and fifth in yards. Last season, two tight ends — New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham and New England’s Rob Gronkowski — reached the 90-reception plateau and compiled more than 1,300 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns, all numbers that used to be reserved only for elite receivers. San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis was another prime target, serving as Alex Smith’s go-to guy in the 49ers’ run to the NFC Championship Game.

Such success at the position makes guys like Stanford’s Coby Fleener, the consensus top tight end in this year’s NFL draft, all the more attractive to scouts and general managers looking to upgrade their passing attacks.

“The guys that played in the NFL this year — the Jimmy Grahams, the Gronkowskis of the world — have really done our class of tight ends a favor this year,” Fleener said. “I can’t say enough about the guys that have already played, and I hope to one day go play just like that.”

Fleener, who had the benefit of working in Stanford’s pro-style offense, lined up at several positions in addition to his traditional tight end spot, including H-back, slot receiver, fullback and wideout. He averaged 19.6 yards per reception last season and caught 10 touchdown passes, developing into a reliable safety valve for Luck.

“You look at what New England’s done with their tight end and their combination,” Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “Now you have to have a tight end that attacks the middle and stretches the middle (of the field). … (It) forces you as a defensive coach, first of all, to have players that can cover the guy. Secondly, whatever your defensive scheme is, you can’t ignore that guy.”

While Fleener isn’t a surefire first-round pick, several mock drafts have him going late in the first round. If he falls into the second round, you could see the Indianapolis Colts snag him with the 33rd overall pick to pair him with Luck, whom Fleener calls “the best player I’ve played with (or) played against.”

Whether it’s catching passes or playing special teams, Fleener said he’s ready for whatever role awaits him at the next level.

“I’d like to do anything I can to help the team win,” he said. “If that means just running routes, just blocking, just playing special teams, I want to help the team win. So that’s really going to be a coach’s decision.”